Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-07-14
FROM STRAND TO STRAND!

ed OH one of the largest and fastest
the "Etruria," of the Cunard line. The
first was called nine-days' boat, and
| time, ard seldom occupies more. The
last has made it from Queenstown to
Sandy Hook in a little over six days
but cannot be counted on to do tDis
| regularly. On this occasion we were
| unfortunate, as strike among the
| stokers the day before sailing left the
steamer minus its usual force of expe-
rienced fremen, and the new lot, pick
ed up hastily, became so sea-sick the
| first day out as to throw the bulk OF
their work on the engineers. The re-
suit was that full head of steam was
not kept up, and the trip was length
ened to over seven days.
| Leaving London 7:10 A. M, by way
of St. Pancras Station, we reach Liver
pool III time to lock over large part
of the town, and to visit the " Great
Eastern,n which lies permanently at
anchor in the harbor. The big ship is
useful BOW mainly as curiosity, and
is said to be more profitable in that role
| than she has ever been i'll any other.
A shilling is the fare for a trip from the
wharf and return, including the view
of the ship.
At half past three P. NJ, the tender
| transfers US 10 the deck of the steamer.
The storage passengers, to the numb
of upwards of 1000, have been taken on
several hours before. The baggage,
consisting of some thousands of trunks
and packages, is then hoisted over the
side and dropped into the hold, the
anchor is tripped ,and in few minutes
we have dropped out of the harbor and
are steaming under full speed down
the channel. During the evening we
pass a great many light-houses-a sys-
| tenn of which England may justly be
proud--some with lights shining steady,
others flushing at irregular intervals,
thus locating to the mariner the differ
ent points on shore. Nothing of special
interest occurs during the night except
that we get on quietly and safely, and
escape the collisions which are SO fre-
quent and disastrous in the channel,
and next morning we orrive again at
Queenstown. Here We wait until two
in the afternoon for the mail, which is
brought from somewhere by a special
train. When night comes again we are
hundred miles out at sea, and in very
rough water. | have vivid recollec-
ton If the difficulties. encountered in
getting to my room that night; how
reluctantly We left the cool, pure air on
deck for the sitting, ill-smeling state
rooms below. Pretty nearly every body
was sea-sick, aud not to be entirely out
of fashion, as the scheme seemed to
meet with such general approval, l
took flyer or two myself before retir-
ing. For the :.eXt three or four days
not more than ten or twenty per cent.
of the saloon passengers came to the
table for meals, and during the entire
voyage many did not get there even
once. Here | may pertinently make a
1t mark or two with reference to the
often boasted fare on ocean steamers.
1t as my experience that the fare was
intolerabIy bad. The food was there,
in what you might call the utmost pro-
fusion, but it seemed to have all been
cooked in the same pot. There is al
indrscribable bad taste about 1t all
which suggests the idea of bilge-water
and decaying vegetables. 1t is said
that German vessels have the best
cooking, French next, then American,
and English the worst. The hotel fare
of Great Britain is also subject to much
criticism from American travellers,
mainly Gn account of the paucity Of
food. AS compared with our own, an
English house does not furnish one
fourth the variety at the same or
higher rate. Their own people are not
slow to speak of their economy in some
dir, ctlons. Thackeray tells how Cork,
Ireland, he called for fire and the girl
brought few scraps of coal and peat
Oh d china saucer!
Amusements on shipboard are not
very pentiful. Pitching quoits, foot
racing and base ball help to pass away
the time. III the smoking-room there
are usually a number of good story tell
ers, " ho aid in the evenings entertain
ment. / recall an excellent story by
Mr.. H., who had been a constant trav-
eIer for the last twenty years. The
scene was on board vessel bound for
Melbourne, Australia. The voyage
had heen long and tedious one, and
all ordinary methods to relieve the
WEAKNESS of the trip had been exhaust
ed. So one morning a passenger took
the occasion of chance remark ef the
ca plain to get very angry. A meeting
of all the passengers was called, and
the vote was unanimous to try the Ca o.
tain for mutiny and half dozen other
grave offences. A warrant for his ar
| rest was beautifully written up and
served on him by the high sheriff at
| the dinner-table. The next day was
Iappointed for trial, and the captain
..,peaEeti before Judge, who was rieged
oil in black gown and white wig,
and a great array of lawyers, jurymen
and witnesses. There were not many
snectatoIg, as the passengers were near
" all witnesses. The Whole day was
oa,vnn,ed in examintion of witnesses